In the latest novel by critically acclaimed author Cassandra Rose Clarke, two noblewomen and the pirate who once accompanied them to seek a bargain with a goddess find themselves at the center of a conflict between the immortal being Decay and the Emperor himself, as the goddess calls on them to repay their debt by seeking out this elusive god, before the world crumbles around them all.

Two sisters, a pregnant aristocrat and a scholar-magician, find themselves at the center of a conflict between the immortal being Decay and the Emperor himself . . . Orphaned as young women, Celestia and Izara De Malena find themselves land rich but destitute, with only a failing rainforest acreage, Celestia’s perfect manners, and Izara’s nascent magic to their aristocratic names. With the last of their money running out, they enact a dangerous plan—using a spell she doesn’t fully understand, Izara summons the Lady of the Seraphine and demands a favor: a husband for Celestia, one rich enough to enable the De Malena sisters to keep their land. But a favor from the river goddess always comes at a cost... Now, five years later, rumors of war and disease are spreading, Celestia’s husband has been called away on a secret mission for the Emperor, and the Lady of the Seraphine is back to collect her due. Izara will be forced to leave the academy where she has been studying to become a mage; Celestia will be pulled from her now-flourishing farm while newly pregnant with her first child. Together, they must repay their debt to the Lady—embarking on a mission that will put them on a collision course with Celestia’s husband, the Emperor, and a god even more powerful than the Lady of the Seraphine. Gorgeous, compelling, and utterly captivating, The Beholden follows Celestia and Izara as they journey from the lush rainforest to a frozen desert on an impossible quest to find a god who doesn’t want to be found and prevent the end of the world.

For fans of stories about finding love when you least expect it.

【A story by USA Today bestselling author becomes a comic!】Amy is the nanny for the twin daughters of the strict and controlling desert king Emir. Then one day he suddenly proposes to her. Emir lost his wife, the queen, in childbirth a year ago, and he must remarry for the sake of his kingdom, where only sons can succeed the throne. He reasons that since Amy already loves him and the twins, it’s a natural fit. Amy can’t believe he caught on to her feelings about him, and his sensual gaze makes her feel as if she’s on fire… But there’s a reason Amy can’t be queen…and it could shake the foundations of law in his kingdom.

Winner of the 2016 Grawemeyer Award in Religion Global health efforts today are usually shaped by two very different ideological approaches: a human rights-based approach to health and equity-often associated with public health, medicine, or economic development activities; or a religious or humanitarian "aid" approach motivated by personal beliefs about charity, philanthropy, missional dynamics, and humanitarian "mercy." The underlying differences between these two approaches can create tensions and even outright hostility that undermines the best intentions of those involved. In Beholden: Religion, Global Health, and Human Rights, Susan R. Holman--a scholar in both religion and the history of medicine--challenges this traditional polarization by telling stories designed to help shape a new perspective on global health, one that involves a multidisciplinary integration of religion and culture with human rights and social justice. The book's six chapters range broadly, describing pilgrimage texts in the Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic traditions; the effect of ministry and public policy on nineteenth-century health care for the poor; the story of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as it shaped economic, social, and cultural rights; a "religious health assets" approach based in Southern Africa; and the complex dynamics of gift exchange in the modern faith-based focus on charity, community, and the common good. Holman's study serves as an insightful guide for students and practitioners interested in improving and broadening the scope of global health initiatives, with an eye towards having the greatest impact possible.

From bestselling author, Dr. Rebecca Sharp, comes a steamy, small-town romance with a dash of suspense. Laurel Ocean knows loss like the sea knows the shore. The loss of her parents took her from Carmel Cove and the loss of her grandfather brought her back. Unexpectedly inheriting the shambles of her family's coffee shop, her first instinct is to run. After all, it's just something else to lose. So, Laurel makes a plan: fix up the business, sell it, and get out of town. And it would've been perfect... if the building hadn't come with a condition: a stubborn, broody, and distractingly sexy contractor. Eli Downing made a promise to look after Laurel, and offering to repair the coffeeshop is just the start. He's not going anywhere whether she likes it or not. And for as many walls as she pays him to fix, he's determined to tear down the same from around her hardened heart. The longer she stays, the more Laurel finds herself beholden. To her family's legacy. To her loyal hometown. And to the man healing her heart. Unfortunately, Carmel has only given Laurel one outcome she can rely on. And when loss draws another line in the sand, will she flee from her fears or fight for her future? Beholden is the first enemies-to-lovers standalone in the Carmel Cove series.

Three nights of submission. To pay her father’s debt. No one knows his face, but his name is whispered with dread. Maddoc. A dark outlaw, bound by no laws, feared by all. When he appears at the royal court, he demands repayment for a debt no one knew existed. His price? The princess. Ana, the treasured daughter of the king, has lived a life dictated by duty—protected, revered, and betrothed to another. She is content to meet all of her father’s expectations. Until she expected to pay his debt with her own flesh and give three nights to the merciless outlaw. Maddoc orchestrates a dark chaos, dragging her deep into his shadowed desire. But Ana glimpses the man behind the monster. A man that could unravel everything she has ever known. And as the walls of her perfect life crumble, Ana is forced to confront a terrifying reality: the safety she has always known is an illusion, and her heart may belong to the one who seeks to destroy her. BEWARE: This story is for those who love an extremely possessive antihero who is inspired by a dark Robin Hood. See author website for full warnings.